USER GUIDE
C
ALIBRATINGFIELDPOINT
C
WITH
ALIBRATIONEXECUTIVE
Contents
Introduction.............................................................................................2
What Is Calibration? ........................................................................ 2
Why Should You Calibrate? ............................................................ 2
How Often Should You Calibrate?.................................................. 2
Equipment and Other Test Requirements ...............................................2
Test Equipment ................................................................................ 2
Documentation.................................................................................3
Software ........................................................................................... 4
Test Conditions ................................................................................ 5
Calibration Procedures............................................................................ 5
Configuring Your FieldPoint AI Module for Calibration................ 6
Connecting the Calibrator to an FP-TC-120 Module ...................... 10
Connecting the Calibrator to an FP-AI-1xx Module ...................... 11
Connecting the Calibrator to an FP-RTD-122 Module ................... 12
Running the Calibration Executive Procedure................................. 13
Troubleshooting and Common Questions............................................... 14
Technical Support Resources.................................................................. 15
NI Web Support ............................................................................... 15
Worldwide Support.......................................................................... 15
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ODULES
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are trademarks of National Instruments Corporation. Product and company names mentioned
Introduction
This document contains step-by-step instructions for loading and running
National Instruments Calibration Executive to calibrate FieldPoint analog
input (AI) modules, including the FP-AI-100, FP-AI-110, FP-AI-111,
FP-RTD-122, and FP-TC-120.
What Is Calibration?
Calibration consists of verifying the measurement accuracy of a device
and adjusting for any measurement error. Verification is measuring
performance of a device and comparing the results to the factory
specifications. Calibration Executive automates the verification and
adjustment of National Instruments (NI) measurement devices.
Why Should You Calibrate?
The accuracy of electronic components drifts with time and temperature,
which can affect measurement accuracy as the device ages. Calibration
restores the device to its specified accuracy and ensures that it still meets
National Instruments standards.
How Often Should You Calibrate?
The measurement accuracy requirements of your application determine
how often you should calibrate a FieldPoint AI module. NI recommends
that you perform a complete calibration at least once every year. You can
shorten this interval to 90 days or six months based on the demands of your
application.
Equipment and Other Test Requirements
This section describes the equipment, documentation, software, and test
conditions you need to calibrate a FieldPoint module using Calibration
Executive.
Test Equipment
Calibration requires using a high-precision calibrator with the voltage
accuracy in parts per million (ppm) listed in Table 1.
Calibrating FieldPoint AI Modules with Calibration Executive 2 ni.com
NI recommends that you use the following instruments for calibration:
Table 1. Test Equipment Specifications and Recommended Models
FieldPoint Module Voltage Accuracy (ppm) Recommended Calibrator
FP-AI-100 500 ppm Fluke 5500A or better
FP-AI-110 100 ppm Fluke 5500A or better
FP-AI-111 100 ppm Fluke 5500A or better
FP-RTD-122 20 ppm Fluke 5700A
FP-TC-120 30 ppm Fluke 5520A or better
• FieldPoint FP-1000 network module
• FP-TB-CAL FieldPoint Calibration Terminal Base (part
number 777519-90), a modified FieldPoint base that allows you to
write new calibration constants to the module EEPROM
• 11-24 V power supply—NI PS-2 power supply
• RS-232 serial cable
If a Fluke 5700A is not available, use the accuracy specifications to choose
a substitute calibration standard.
Documentation
This section describes the documentation you need to calibrate a FieldPoint
AI module. In addition to this calibration procedure, you may need to refer
to the following documentation:
• Calibration Executive Software User Manual
• FP-1000/1001 User Manual
• FP-1000/1001 Quick Start Guide
• Operating instructions for the AI module
You can download these documents from the NI Web site at
ni.com/manuals
© National Instruments Corporation 3 Calibrating FieldPoint AI Modules with Calibration Executive
.
Software
To calibrate the FieldPoint AI modules with Calibration Executive, you
need to install the FieldPoint calibration procedure for Calibration
Executive and FieldPoint Explorer on your system.
Complete the following steps to install the FieldPoint calibration procedure
for Calibration Executive:
1. Make sure that your computer and monitor are powered on and
that you have installed Windows NT/Me/98/95.
2. Close all open applications.
3. Insert the installation CD into the CD-ROM drive.
4. Choose the Run option from the Start menu on the desktop task bar.
5. In the command line box, enter
x:\setup.exe
(wherexis the letter
of the CD-ROM drive you are using), then click OK.
6. Follow the onscreen instructions to complete the installation.
The setup program installs Calibration Executive as well as
the associated files listed in Table 2.
Table 2. Calibration Executive Directories and Supporting Files
Directory Name Contents
Calibration Executive
\Procedures\FP-XX-XXX\Limits
Calibration Executive\Procedures\FP-XX-XXX
Calibration Executive\
Procedures\FP-XX-XXX\Support Files
Complete the following steps to install FieldPoint Explorer:
1. Insert the FieldPoint Explorer CD into the CD-ROM drive on your
computer.
2. Choose the Run option from the Start menu on the desktop task bar.
3. In the command line box, enter
of the CD-ROM drive you are using), then click OK.
4. Follow the onscreen instructions to complete the installation.
Microsoft Access database that
stores the calibration limits for
FieldPoint AI modules (excluding
FP-TC-120)
Directory structure that contains the
calibration procedures
Required support files
x:\setup.exe
(wherexis the letter
Calibrating FieldPoint AI Modules with Calibration Executive 4 ni.com
Test Conditions
Follow these guidelines to optimize connections and test conditions during
calibration:
• Keep connections to the module short. Long cables and wires act as
antennae, picking up extra noise that can affect measurements.
• Use shielded copper wire for all cable connections to the device.
Use twisted-pair wire to eliminate noise and thermal offsets.
• Maintain a temperature between 18 and 28 °C. To operate the module
at a specific temperature outside this range, calibrate the module at that
temperature.
• Keep relative humidity below 80%.
• Allow a warm-up time of at least 15 minutes to ensure that the
measurement circuitry is at a stable operating temperature.
Calibration Procedures
This section explains how to configure and set up the module for
calibration, and how to run the Calibration Executive procedure. Refer
to Table 3 for the approximate times to complete the procedure in both
automated and manual modes.
Table 3. Approximate Time to Complete Calibration Executive Procedure
Module Automated Mode Manual Mode
FP-TC-120 10 minutes 15 minutes
FP-AI-100 70 minutes 120 minutes
FP-AI-110 20 minutes 30 minutes
FP-AI-111 30 minutes 45 minutes
FP-RTD-122 10 minutes 15 minutes
Note
For an explanation of automated versus manual calibration, refer to the Automated
Versus Manual Calibration section in Chapter 2, Calibration Executive System Overview,
of the Calibration Executive Software User Manual.
© National Instruments Corporation 5 Calibrating FieldPoint AI Modules with Calibration Executive
Calibration consists of two main steps:
1. Configuring the module for calibration, which is described in the
Configuring the FieldPoint AI Module for Calibration section of this
document.
2. Running the procedure to calibrate the module, which is described in
the Running the Calibration Executive Procedure section of this
document.
Configuring the FieldPoint AI Module for Calibration
To verify the operation of the test fixture, build a FieldPoint bank with a
network module, calibration terminal base, power supply, and the
FieldPoint AI module you are calibrating. Build the FieldPoint bank as
follows:
1. Attach the network module to the calibration terminal base as shown
in Figure 1.
Local Bus Connectors
Firmly Mated
Protective
Cover
Figure 1. Connecting FieldPoint Terminal Bases
2. Place the FieldPoint AI module on top of the calibration terminal base.
3. Connect the bank to the host computer using an RS-232 cable.
4. Select the appropriate baud rate that your computer supports on the
network interface module. Table 4 shows the available baud rates.
The default baud rate for the FP-1000 is 115,200, which provides the
fastest performance. You do not need to change this setting unless you
experience communications problems.
Calibrating FieldPoint AI Modules with Calibration Executive 6 ni.com
Table 4. Baud Rate Switch Settings for the FP-1000/1001
Switch Positions 6–8 Network Module Baud Rate
123 45678
123 45678
123 45678
123 45678
123 45678
123 45678
300
1,200
2,400
9,600
19,200
38,400
123 45678
115,200
123 45678
© National Instruments Corporation 7 Calibrating FieldPoint AI Modules with Calibration Executive
57,600
5. Connect the positive wire of the power supply into the first V terminal
of the network module. Connect the negative wire of the power supply
into the first C terminal of the FP-1000 network module (see Figure 2).
+
To DC V Power Supply
–
Figure 2. FP-1000/1001 Power Connector Pinout
VV
CC
6. Launch FieldPoint Explorer.
7. Expand the + directory tree, which is on the left side of the FieldPoint
Explorer window (see Figure 3).
Figure 3. FieldPoint Explorer
8. Right-click the FieldPoint icon and select Add a comm resource to
this server.
9. In the Comm Resource Configuration dialog box, which is shown in
Figure 4, select the port to which the FieldPoint system is connected.
Make sure the baud rate matches whatthe network module is set to use,
then click Find Devices.
Calibrating FieldPoint AI Modules with Calibration Executive 8 ni.com
Figure 4. Comm Resource Configuration
10. Expand the view to show the devices found on the network, as shown
in Figure 5. If you do not see the module that you want to calibrate, the
network module is not communicating correctly with either the host or
the FieldPoint module.
Figure 5. Expanding the View of the + Directory Tree
11. Close FieldPoint Explorer before you go on to the next section. You do
not need to save the new comm resource.
© National Instruments Corporation 9 Calibrating FieldPoint AI Modules with Calibration Executive
Caution
Yo u must close FieldPoint Explorer and keep it closed during the remainder of
this procedure to prevent a system crash.
Connecting the Calibrator to an FP-TC-120 Module
If you are calibrating the FP-TC-120, make the following connections as
showninFigure6:
1. Connect the positive output (voltage) of the calibrator to terminal 1 of
the calibration terminal base
2. Connect the negative output (voltage) of the calibrator to terminal 2 of
the calibration terminal base.
1
7
VV
CC
6
5
1 FP-1000 Network Module
2 TB-Cal Calibration Terminal Base
3 Connect to positive output (voltage) of calibrator
4 Connect to negative output (voltage) of calibrator
3 4
5 Connect to DC V power supply
6 Connect RS-232 serial cable to COM port
7 Baud Rate Switches
67892345 141516V10 11 12 13V1
2
22 23 24 2518 19 20 21 30 31 32 C26 27 28 29C17
Figure 6. FP-TC-120 Connections to Calibrator
Calibrating FieldPoint AI Modules with Calibration Executive 10 ni.com
Connecting the Calibrator to an FP-AI-1xx Module
If you are calibrating an FP-AI-100, FP-AI-110, or FP-AI-111 module,
make the connections shown in Figure 7.
1. Connect the positive output (current) of the calibrator to terminal 2 of
the calibration terminal base.
2. Connect the negative output (current) of thecalibrator to terminal 18 of
the calibration terminal base.
1
7
VV
CC
6
5
1 FP-1000 Network Module
2 FP-TB-CAL Calibration Terminal Base
3 Connect to positive output (current) of calibrator
4 Connect to negative output (current) of calibrator
Figure 7.
FP-AI-1xx Connections to Calibrator for Current Offset Testing
67892345 141516V10 11 12 13V1
22 23 24 2518 19 20 21 30 31 32 C26 27 28 29C17
3
4
5 Connect to DC V power supply
6 Connect RS-232 serial cable to COM port
7 Baud Rate Switches
2
© National Instruments Corporation 11 Calibrating FieldPoint AI Modules with Calibration Executive
Connecting the Calibrator to an FP-RTD-122 Module
If you are calibrating the FP-RTD-122 module, make the following
connections as shown in Figure 8.
1. Connect the positive output (ohms) and positive sense (ohms) of the
calibrator to terminal 1 of the calibration base.
2. Connect the negative output (ohms) and the negative sense (ohms) of
the calibrator to terminal 18 of the calibration base.
3. On the calibration terminal base, connect terminal 2 to terminal 18.
While the Calibration Executive procedure runs, you are prompted to make
additional connections between the calibrator and the module you are
calibrating. Follow the onscreen instructions at each prompt.
1
10
9
1 FP-1000 Network Module
2 TB-Cal Calibration Terminal Base
3 Connect terminal 2 to terminal 18
4 Connect to positive output of calibrator
5 Connect to positive sense of calibrator
VV
CC
5
4
8
6 Connect to negative output of calibrator
7 Connect to negative sense of calibrator
8 11-24 DC V Power Supply PS-2
9 RS-232 Serial Cable
10 Baud Rate Switches
3
67892345 141516V10 11 12 13V1
22 23 24 2518 19 20 21 30 31 32 C26 27 28 29C17
7
6
2
Figure 8. FP-RTD-122 Connections to Calibrator
Calibrating FieldPoint AI Modules with Calibration Executive 12 ni.com
Running the Calibration Executive Procedure
To run the Calibration Executive procedure, complete the following steps:
1. Launch Calibration Executive and follow the instructions in the
Calibration Configuration Wizard to load the appropriate FieldPoint
calibration procedure for the module. Refer to Chapter 1, Introduction
to Calibration Executive,intheCalibration Executive Software User
Manual if you need more information on configuring and loading a
calibration procedure.
2. Enter the following information about the installed hardware when
prompted by Calibration Executive:
• Selected Calibrator Information—The calibrator you are using
for this calibration procedure (for example, the Fluke 5700A).
• Available Address—Select
mode; otherwise, select the GPIB address of the calibrator.
3. When the procedure is loaded, click Run Procedure to begin.
4. Enter the following information in the first dialog box, which is titled
FieldPoint Bank Configuration:
• Baud Rate—The correct rate from Table 4 to communicate with
the network module.
• COM Port Number—The serial port used to connect to the
FP-1000 network module, for example, COM1, COM2, and so on.
• Device Number—The address of the I/O module you want to
verify or calibrate. The first module to the right of a network
module has an address of 1.
If you enter a value incorrectly, Calibration Executive prompts you to
re-enter the information.
5. Follow any instructions you receive from Calibration Executive.
if you are using the manual
None
After the procedure finishes, complete the following steps to see the
calibration report:
1. Click View»Reports.
2. Select View to launch your browser and view the report. The
calibration report appears as a printable HTML file.
You have completed calibrating your FieldPoint AI module with
Calibration Executive.
Note
If the FieldPoint AI module fails after calibration, return it to NI for repair or
replacement.
© National Instruments Corporation 13 Calibrating FieldPoint AI Modules with Calibration Executive
Troubleshooting and Common Questions
When I change the baud rate of the FP-1000 and run the Calibration
Executive procedure, a dialog box prompts me to re-enter the correct
baud rate. What steps do I need to take to do this?
Power down the FP-1000, then power back up again to enable the new
settings that you entered.
Some test points fail even after I run the Calibration Executive
procedure. What can I do to correct this problem?
Before running the Calibration Executive procedure, allow the FieldPoint
bank to warm up at least 15 minutes to ensure accurate readings. Also,
make sure you are using shielded copper wire for all cable connections to
the module.
In the FP-AI-100 current offset test, my test points are significantly out
of specification. What causes this problem?
The voltage terminals (1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, and 15) on the calibration base
might still be connected together from the voltage offset test. Disconnect all
the wires that connect these terminals before attempting the current offset
test.
Communication with the FieldPoint AI module times out. What causes
this to happen?
The watchdog timer on the FP-1000 might be enabled. Refer to the
FP-1000/1001 User Manual to find out how to disable the watchdog timer.
Calibrating FieldPoint AI Modules with Calibration Executive 14 ni.com
Technical Support Resources
NI Web Support
National Instruments Web support is your first stop for help in solving
installation, configuration, and application problems and questions. Online
problem-solving and diagnostic resources include frequently asked
questions, knowledge bases, product-specific troubleshooting wizards,
manuals, drivers, software updates, and more. Web support is available
through the Technical Support section of
Worldwide Support
National Instruments has offices located around the world to help address
your support needs. You can access our branch office Web sites from the
Worldwide Offices section of
up-to-date contact information, support phone numbers, e-mail addresses,
and current events.
If you have searched the technical support resources on our Web site
and still cannot find the answers you need, contact your local office or
National Instruments corporate. For telephone support in the United States,
dial 512 795 8248. For telephone support outside the United States, contact
your local branch office:
ni.com
ni.com.
. Branch office Web sites provide
Australia 03 9879 5166, Austria 0662 45 79 90 0, Belgium 02 757 00 20,
Brazil 011 284 5011, Canada (Calgary) 403 274 9391,
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Taiwan 02 2528 7227, United Kingdom 01635 523545
© National Instruments Corporation 15 Calibrating FieldPoint AI Modules with Calibration Executive
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